Counter operating and locking mechanism for voting-machines.



No. 881,991. PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908. O. 0.. ABBOTT.

COUNTER OPERATING AND LOOKING MECHANISM FOR VOTING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

e I e WITNESSES:

v INVENTOR Charles CiAbbott,

ATTORNEY No. 881,991. PATENTED MAR. 17,1908. 0. O. ABBOTT.

COUNTER OPERATING A'ND LOOKING MBUHANISM FOR VOTING MACHINES.

} APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTIOR Charles ClAlaboi'lJ,

ATTORNEY No. 881,991. PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908. O. G. ABBOTT. COUNTER OPERATING AND LOOKING MEGHANISM FOR VOTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1907.

3SHEETS-SHEET 8.

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ATTORNEY UNITED sTArEs' PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. ABBOTT, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO TRIUMPH VOTING,

MACHINE COMPANY, OF PITTSFIELD MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF JER- SEY.

COUNTER OPERATING AND LOCKING MECHANISM FOR VOTING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 17, 1908,

Application filed. May 20, 1907. Serial No. 874,610.

To all whom it may concern: three-quarter rotation to the engaged coun- 55 Be it known that I, CHARLES C. ABBOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsfield, county of Berkshire, State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful- Counter Operating and Looking Mechanism for Voting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the counting mechanism of voting machines.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide improved mechanism for connecting actuated voting members with the corresponding counters and for operating the counters.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and reliable mechanism that will insure the counters against injury, from being tampered with and againstim roper actuation either forward or backwar I With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain constructions and in certain arts,- im. rovements and combinations whic will be ereinafter described and then specifically pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which like characters of reference indicate the same arts in all of the figures; Figure 1 is a rear e evation of a portion of a voting machine, the doors being removed; illustrating a form of my novel counter-operating and locking mechanism in which the countershafts and counter-pins are 35 normally in vertical alinement, the countor-dogs being shown as made: from sheet metal anda portion of the counter-dogs being shown in the engaged or voting position; Fig. 2 a detailelevation on an enlarged scale, illustrating a portion of a counter-bar with two counters attached and the corresponding voting member shafts and counter-dogs,

the upper counter-dog being in the engaged or voting position and the lower countendog being in the normal or disengaged position; Fig. 3 a similar view, the counter-barliaving been moved far enough as in the o eration of counting to impart to the engage .-'i. oi, the upper counter--a quarter rotation; Fig. 4 a similar View, the movement of the counterbar having proceeded far enough to impart a half rotation to the engaged counter; Fig. 5 a similar view, the movement of the counterbar' having proceeded far enough toimpart a provided with openings to receive the counter'operating pin; Fig. 8 a side elevation of a sheet metal counter-dog detached; Fig. 9 a front elevation of -a sheet metal counter-dog detached, that is; an elevationfrom a point of view the reverse of thepoint of view in Fig. 1; Fig. 10, an edge view of a counter-dog retaining spring detached; Fig. 11 an elevation of a counter-dog retaining spring detached; Fig. 12 an elevation on an enlar ed scale of a counter operating disk, illustrating my novel movable counter-operati Fig. 13 a similarview with t e housing removed; Fig. 14 an edge view-of the counter operating disk as seen from thet'op i'n'Fig. 12; Fig. 15 a view similar to Fi 1, illustrating a form of the invention in which the countershafts and counter-o "crating pins are normally in horizontal a 'nement, and I showing a variant form of counter-dogs, a portion of the counter-dogs being shown m the engaged or voting pos1tion; Fig. 16 a detail elevation on an enlarged scale corres onding with Fig. 15, illustrating a portion 0? a counter-bar with two'countersattached and the corresponding voting member shafts and counter-dogs, the upper'counter-do "being in the enga ed or voting position an the lower counterdog being in the normal. or disengaged position; Fig. 17 a similarview, the counter-bar having been moved far enough as in the operation of-counting to impart to the engaged-t'; e., the upper counter -a quarter rotation; Fig. 18 a slniilarfi 'iew, the movement of the counter-bar havin proceeded far enough. to impart a halfgrolt'a ion to the engaged counter; Fig; '19 a similar view, the movement of the count-enter liavifig proceeded far enough to im art a time quarter rotation to the engaged counter;-

Fig. 20 a view corresponding with Fi'si; 6

and provided 'with'notches in its edge for engagement by the counter operating pin; Fig. a side elevaneaei a term of .eoriuntetev machine, .21 the top plate, 22 standards. 23

do s.

the voting member shafts and 24 the voting levers which appear in dotted linesonly. In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, in-

clusive, and 8 and 9, the counter-do s, in-

dicated by 25, are made from strips 0 sheet metal bent to substantially U-shape. The counter operating pins engage the counterdogs by passing between the arms at their intersection, as at 47, when the dogs are moved -to the engaging position, Voting member shafts 23 are provided with flattened or angular portions 26 andthe arms of the counter-dogs, which are indicated specifically by'aand b, areprovided with correspondingly shaped holes 27 to receive the angular portions which act to retain the tudinal movement on the voting member shafts by means of pins 28, which are. driven into holes in said shafts, one pin lying on the outer side of arm I) and one on the inner side of arm a. The arm (b of each counter-dog is provided at its attached end with grooves or depressions 29, and 30. These grooves or depressions lie/at an angle to each other and diametrically to the hole 27 said-farm. 31 denote bow-springs having at their ends recesses 32 which receive the voting member shafts and cross ribs 33 which are adapted to engage the grooves 29 and 30 in the counter- The function of these springs is to hold: the counter-dogs in either the engaged orthe disen aged position and with them the votingmem ers in either the voting or nonvoting position. When a rib 33 on aspringis in engagement with a groove 3() on a counter-dog, the dog will'beheld in the normal or disengaged position, and when the rib is in engagement with groove 29 the dog will be held in the operative or engaged position. See,'for example, the up er counters the upper; counter in the left hand column in Fig. 1'. The mid-lengthpf ea'ch springbears against in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, an

- a standard. and each spring acts to retain two counter-dogs either in the engaged or .dise aged position as may be required. 'It be noted that the springs are self-- retaining in place and also cooperate with the pins 28 to retain the counter-dogs in place on the voting member shafts.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 15'to 19; inclusive, the counter-dogs, indicated by 48, are cast or. forged. solid. These connterdogs are shown as provided with heads 49 having holes. 50 through them to receive through the 'heads and the shafts.

the voting member shafts and as secured to said shafts by means of pins 51 which pass The engaging ends of the counter-dogs are shown as bent at an angle as at 52 and as provided 'withcounter sunk holes 53 to receive the counter operating pins. The counter-dogs are provided with. grooves 29Q and 30 which lie at anangle to each other and diametrically to holes 50 and, are adapted to be engaged by cross ribs 33 on the bow-springs 31 to hold them either in the engaged or operative or in the normal or disengaged position the same as in the other form.

34 denotes counters which are rigidly secured in vertical columns to counter-bars 35. Each counter is provided with a shaft 36, one end of which extends beyond the case and carries an operating disk 37. ries a housing 38 which-is shown as secured thereto by means of lugs formed on-the edges thereof and engaging openings 54 formed in the disks, the lugs being headed down on the backs of the disks as at 55 (see Fig. 14). counter-dogs against rotation on the shafts. The counter-dogs are held against longi-- 56 denotes the counter operating pins which are movable in the plane of rotation of Each disk car- I v the countershafts for a purpose presently to be explained. Each operating in extends through a curved slot 57 in the ousing and is provided with an an ular base 58 which lies between the disk an the housing and retains the pin in an upright position while permitting it to slide in the slot should movement of the pin be necessar The operating ins are preferabl ma e cone-pointed, as s own, to insure t e engagement therewith of the corresponding counter-dogs when the latter are'moved to the engaging position' See, for exam 1e, the upper counters in Figs' 2 to 5 ans 16'to 19, inclusive, and certaln engaged'counter-dogs in Figs. 1 and 15.

The counter-bars are provided with bearings 39 which are mounted on eccentrics40 carried by shafts 41 journaled in bearings 42' upon the standards. Motion is imparted to these shafts to operate the counter-bars and actuate the engaged counters by mechanism which forms no portion of the present invention. It is sufficient for the purposes of this specification to say that after the completion of a'voting operation, the voter operates exit mechanism, forming no portion of the resent invention, which imparts to the s afts forward rotation and thena backward or return rotation, the effect of which is to cause ward rotation of the counter-bars, for exam le', when three-fourths, more orless, of sai forward rotation of the counter-bars and consequent rotation of engaged counter" shafts has taken place-suitable disengaging mechanism (not shown, as'it forms'no ortion ofthe present. invention) is o erated by the exit mechanism to disengage t e enga ed counters and; return the voting rnem er shafts, voting levers and counter-dogs to their normal or disengaged position, as, for example, the lower counters in Fi s. 2 to 5 and 16 to 19, inclusive. (See also disengaged counters in Figs. 1 and 1-5.}

' Another and vitally important feature of the resent invention is that the counters are at al times, except necessarily in the resettin )osition, resently. to. be described, loche against t e possibilit of uncounting or unwarranted counting, in act, against any operation'except the regula'rcountlng operation, which can only be performed by complete bodily rotation of each counter about Its operating pin when the latter is engaged although not-necessari y, provi by a counter-dog. eration I effect y means of counter 10c ing bars 43 provided with means for engagement by the operatin pins of engaged counters. The counter loc standards by means of screws passing through holes 44 in said bars, In the form illustrated in Figs. 2 to '6, inclusive, the

counter locking bars" are shown as provided with fingers 45, each er being referahly,

d ed with a notch 46 which receives the operating pin 56 It will be elusive) that the operating p1ns of engaged counters are at all times in engagement or approximately so with the fingers 45, and as shown. in the drawings, lie in the notches 46 in said fin ers. In other words, the operating pin 0 each engaged counter is'locked during three-fourths, more or less, of the counting operation between a counter-dog and the corresponding locking finger, and when released by the counter locking dog is held against backward movement by the locking finger. The operating pins of disengaged counters are at all times, except during the counting operation, at their low est position and lie men agement or approximately so with the loc ing fingers, so that movementof-the countershafts in either direction is impossibler During the counting operation there is but one portion of the movement of the counter-bars at which the operatin pins of disenga ed counters are carried tr enough away mm the locking fingers to permit even a half rotation of the countershafts. It will, of course, be obvione that there must be one disengaged pos1- This counter lockin op-' g bars are secured to the {suring t tion of the counters at which they may be operated, otherwise the counters could .notbe re-set after an election. This resetting position is illustrated by the lower counters in Figs. 4 and 18. At this position of the parts the counter-bars have made one-halflof the counting movement and disengaged counters ma be operated, as'the operating ins are fart est-away from the counter loo mg bars and will pass the engaging portions thereof, which'at all other times act asstops to prevent rotation of the countershafts in either direction I Anotherfunction of the venga ing portions of the counter locking bars','is to-m'sure a complete rotation of the countershaft of each engaged counter and therefore insure that each vote cast is accurately counted. It has already been'stated that the engaged ,counter-dogsaare disengaged from the operating pins at the completion of three-fourths, more or less, of the rotation of the eccentric shafts. place thp rofiatfion oi thl'e countclshaftsfwlill .e com ete t rou t e e ement o t e p g the 'lo diigg fingers, as

When this disengagement takes operating. pins wit 1 v I c earl r s own by the'lowercounter in Fig. 2.

Shou d friction of the counter mechanism retard the free operation of the. countershafts.

forms of counter locking bafrsfillustrated in Figs. 6 and 7-, the counters-"erase arranged that the 'countershafts and counter-pins are normally in vertical alineme'nt, as in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive. In the form illustrated in Figs. 15 to 19, inclusive, the counters are so arranged that the countershafts and operat-- ing pinsare normally in-horizontal alinement. In connection with this 'form, the

counter locking bars 43 are provided'with webs 59, preferably provided with notches 61 in their edges (see Fig. 20) which receive the operating pins the same as in the other form. In each of these forms the cooperation of the operatingpins, counter-dogs and counter locking bars is substantially the same, the engaging portions of the counter locking liars insuring the completion of the rotation of the countersh'afts after the disengagement of. engaged counter-dogs. By making the operating pins 56 movable in the plane of rotation of the countersliafts, I.

avoid the possibility of inj ury to the counters 11g pins, if the ,did not drop 1 on i 1 engagement, thus mthrough engagement ofthe operating pins with the engaging portions ,of the counter locking bars should an attempt be made to uncount or to run up any of the counters by tampering with the machine. It will be noted from the upper counters in Figs. 3 to 5 and 17' to 19, inclusive, that in normal.

counting the relative position of the operating pins 56 in the curved slots 57 does not change. Should tampering be attempted by disengaging any 'of the counter-dogs during the counting movement and should the operating pins contact with the engaging portions of the counter locking bars when the operating pins and countershafts were in alinemcnt, the operating pins would move inward in the slots in the housings, no injury would happen'to the counters or to the machine and both uncounting and unwarranted counting would be prevented.

The operation of my novel mechanism has been so fully described in describing the construction and operation of the parts that further description can hardly be required."

It is sufficient to say that in performing the voting operation the voter oscillates voting member shafts which places the counter dogs carried by said shafts in engagement with the operating pins of the corresponding counters. When the counter-bars are operated in the manner described, each enga ed counter is caused to makea complete bodily rotation about its operating pin which is held by the counter-dog. At the end of the counting operation all operating pins, whether previously engaged or disengaged, are brought into engagement with the engaging portions of the counter locking bars so that any movement of a countershaft either to count or uncount is made impossible. During the counting operation these locking fingers maketamp'ering with disen-v gaged counters, except at the resetting position, impossible, as they prevent even a half rotation of the countershafts being made in either direction. I thus insure that no count can be made except upon engaged counters and then only by complete rotation of each engaged counter about its operating pin as a center of rotation. Having" thus described my invention, I claim: a

1. In a voting-machine, the combination with voting members having counter-dogs and counters having operating pins which are engaged, held and then released by the counter-dogs of actuated voting memb ers,'of counter-bars by which the counters are car ried, means for imparting endwise and lateral rotary oscillation to the counter-bars to count votes and counter locking bars pro vided with means for engagement by the operating pins to lock the counters against unwarranted actuation.

2. In a voting machine, the combination with voting members having'counter-dogs and counters having operating pins out'of alinement with the counter shafts which are adapted to be engaged by the correspondin counter-do s, 0f;means for imparting en wise and lateral rotary oscillation to the .counters and counter locking bars provided with means for engagement by the operatin 'pins to lock the counters against unwarrante actuation. 3. In a voting machine, the'combination with voting members, having counter-do and counters having operating pins whit! are adapted to be engaged by the correspond: ing counter-dogs, of means for. imparting endwise and lateral rota oscillation to the counters, and means for ocking disengaged counters against actuation.-

4. In a voting machine, the combination with voting members, having counter-dogs and counters having operating pins which are adapted to be engaged by the corresponding counter-dogs, of means for'imparting endwise and lateral rotar oscillation to the counters, and counter loc 'ng bars provided with means for engagement by the operating pins to lock the counters againstunwarranted actuation.

5. In a voting machine, the combination with voting members, having counter-dogs and counters having 0 crating pins whichare adapted to be engage by the corresponding counter-do s, of means for imparting endwise and ateral rotary oscillation to the counters, and counter locking bars provided with notches which are engaged by the operating pins to lock the counters, substantially as described, for thepurpose s cified. 6. In a voting machine, the com ination with voting members having [counter-dogs provided with grooves at anangle to each other, of springs having cross ribs engaging said grooves to hold the counter-dogs 1n the engaged or disengaged position.

7. In a voting machine, the combination with voting'members having counter-do s provided in one side with grooves at an ang e to each other, of a bow-spring having at its ends recesses to receive voting member shafts and cross ribs engaging said grooves to hold either counter-do In the engaged or disengaged position an the voting m'emberin the votin' or-non-voti'ng position. v

' 8. '%he combination with a voting member shaft having an angular portion and a counter-dog formed from a strip of sheet metal bent to U-sha'pe and having a hole. corresponding with the shaft, one side of said dog being provided with grooves .at an an le to each other, ofa spring having in its en a re- 'cessto receive the voting member shaft and a cross rib adapted to engage the oovesin the counter-dog, substantlal y as escribed, for" the purpose sgecifiedu 9.. The com ination with a voting member shaft having an angular sa'neei B to U-shape and having in its ends holes corresfiondingwi th the angular portion of the s SKlG' of said dog being provided ga e th'e'cgroovesin the countendog, substam tia ly as escribed, for the purpose s )ecified, '10. In

a voting machine, the com ination :with a votingmember shaft and a, counter dog formedifrom a stri of sheetmetal bent to; U-shap'e and secure to the shaft, said dog being providedin one side-with grooves at an;

angle to each, other, of a counter having an operating pin adapted to engage" the dog by passing between the arms when the dog-is moved to theengaging position, and a spring having a rib adapted to engagerthe. grooves to lock the dog in the, engaged or disengaged position. I p 11. The counter-dog 25 formed from a strip of sheet inetal bent' to U-shape and g g with voting members havingcounter dogs having in one side grooves at an angle to each other, substantiallyas described, forthe,

purpose specified. a

12 In a: voting machine, the combination with a voting member havin a counter-dog, ofa counter having a slidab e operating pin which is engaged by the counter-dog at each voting 0 eration, means for imDarting'endwise an lateral oscillation t6 thecounter and means for locking the counter against actuation when'disenga'ge'd,

13. In a voting machine, the combination with a voting member having counter-engag- I ve y slotted housing and an operating pin extending means, of a'counter having a'relati movable shaft andan operating pin adapted to be engaged by the voting member and yieldingl mounted to moveindependently of said s aft, substantially" as described; for" the purposespecified-z m -14. In a voting machine,'the combinat1on with a voting member having a counter-do of a counter having'a shaft carr in' a dis and an operating pin carried by liedisk and adapted to be engaged by the dog,said in being movable relativelyto thev d1sk',,su stantially as described, for the purpose s ecifiedu v 15. In a'voting machine, the com ination with a voting member having a counter-dog, of'a counter having'ashaft carrying a disk provided with a housing having a slot andan operating pin extendin through theslotand having an angular base ying under the housing, said pin being ada ted to be en aged by the counter dog' and eing movab J slot, substantially as desoribed, for the. purpose specified:

16. In a voting machine,-the combination with a voting member having acounter dog,

of a counter having a shaftcarrying a disk provided with a housing having a slot, an opportion, a counter dog formed from a strip of sheet metal bent to each other and :werein alinement.

17 In a voting maclune,-the. combination.'

' under, the housing, having means for crating pin extending through the slot and' hav ng an angular base lying under the hone-r mg, said pinbemg adapted to be engaged by the dog and a counter locking bar which is said'pincontact-With,thecounter locking bar when the operating with voting "members having [counter-dogs and counters having operating pins .WhlCh countend eggs of actuated votingmembers, of

means for imparting endwise and lateral rotary oscillation to the countersto actuateen pin and 'oountershal t .gre engaged, heldand then released by the gaged counters and counter locking bars h'avingmeans for engagement by the operatin pins after the 'counter-dogs are disengage therefrom to insure the return of theoper ating pins to their normal position after 'an actuation; g

18 I11 avotin'g machine, the combination and counters having movable operatingpins,

of means for imparting endwise and lateral.

rotary oscillation to the counters for the urng means for engagement, by the operating pins, said pins moving'backward should they engage the counter locking bar when the operating pin and countershaft were'in aline- Inent. i i

"1 9. Ifnla" voting, machine, the combination with a ,vjoting member having a counter-dog anda counter having ajshaft provided with a ing through'the'jslot'and having a base lying of a counter locking bar engagement by said pin, the pin'moving backward in the slot and preventin breakage should it engage the coun- ,pose' setfforth,and counterlocking bars avter loc ing bar when the pin and the shaft I were in alinement.

20 In a voting machine, the combination with voting memberslhaving counter-dogs and counters having-operating spins which are enga ed, held and then released by the (:ou'nterogs of actuated voting members, of.

means for impartin endwise and lateralrotary oscillation-to t e counters, for the pur pose set-forth, and'means engaged'by the operatingpins for insuringthe return of disen-r gaged operating pinsto the normal positionafter the" ac'tuatidn or the counters-. v

21. In a'votmg machine, the combination withjvo'ting members having counter dogs and counters having operating pins are enga ed, held andthen released by the counterogs of actuated voting members, of

means forimparting endwise and lateral rotary oscillation to the counters, for the urpose set forth, and fixed counter locking ars having means for engagement by the counter-pins, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

f 22. In a voting machine, the combination with counters having shafts and operating pins movable relatively to the shafts, for the purpose set forth, of means for imparting endwise and lateral rotary oscillation to the counters and fixed counter locking bars having means for engagement by the operating 23. In a voting machine, the combination with counters having shafts, disks carried by said shafts, housings secured to the disks and provided'with slotsand operating pins extending through said slots and having bases within the housings, of means for imparting endwise and lateral rotary oscillation to the i counters, and counter locking bars having means for engagement by the operating pins.

24; In a voting machine, the combination with counters having shafts, disks carried by the shafts, housings secured to the disks provided with curved slots, and operating pins extending through the slots and having angular bases lying under the housings, of means for imparting endwise and lateral rotary oscillation to the counters, and counter locking bars having means for engagement by the operating pins.

25. In a voting machine, the combination with a voting member having counter-engaging means, of acounter having a relatively movable shaft, and an operating pin adapted 'to be engaged by the'voting member and movable in a plane at right angles to the axis of the counter shaft, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

26. In a voting machine, the combination with a voting member having counter-eng CHARLES o. ABBOTT.

Witnesses:

GEO. O. B. HAWLEY, CHARLES II. PITNEY. 

